How to save custom buttons to a map template in 10.1

I have a couple of Python scripts that I want to make available as buttons on a toolbar in an ArcMap template. Now that we are in 10.1 I am unable to create mxt's, so I have tried saving the buttons in an mxd file that I have saved to my templates directory. The buttons run and can access the script when the document is opened as an mxd. But when I choose the document to open as a template, the button stops working.

So I tried unchecking the "Save all customizations to the document" box in the Customize Options dialog box, then adding the script tool as a button, in an attempt to save the change to the Normal.mxt. It did not stick.

Anyone else been able to figure out how to save custom buttons to a template in 10.1??

Thanks in advance,
Solana

P.S. There are instructions for changing the Normal.mxt in the online 10.1 help documentation, but this makes no sense, since we are unable to edit mxts in 10.1. See: http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/...0000005000000/